This study examined whether resilience moderated the relationship between a history of child sexual abuse and current life satisfaction in undergraduate students. It found negative correlations between a history of abuse and both resilience and life satisfaction, and a positive correlation between resilience and life satisfaction. However, resilience did not significantly moderate the relationship between abuse history and life satisfaction. The authors suggest future research should examine other potential moderating variables and samples beyond college students.

1. History of Child Sexual Abuse and Current Life Satisfaction:
The Moderating Role of Resilience
Kimberly Iannacone C. Thresa Yancey
Georgia Southern University
RESULTS
Initially, bivariate correlations were conducted to examine relationships among all the variables. As
expected, instances of child sexual abuse were negatively related to scores of resilience (r = -.20).
Consistent with expectations, instances of child sexual abuse were negatively related to life
satisfaction (r = -.23). Finally, as expected, resilience was positively correlated with life
satisfaction (r = .55). Overall, all variables were significantly related in the expected direction and
to the expected degree. Inter-correlations among the study’s variables are located in Table 2. To
examine moderating effects, a hierarchical regression was analyzed. Regression effects on
satisfaction with life were first explored through main effects of the predictor and moderator
variables. These main effects were not significant (p > .05). In the second step, the interaction
effect between instances of child sexual abuse and resilience was added to the model. This
interaction term was non-significant (p > .05). Variance explained in this step did not statistically
increase (from 32% to 32%; p > .05). Table 3 presents the results of the hierarchical regression.
Considering these findings, resilience did not moderate the relationship between instances of child
sexual abuse and satisfaction with life. Given that our results did not yield resilience as a
significant moderator of the relationship between a history of child sexual abuse or life
satisfaction, we cannot assume that resilience influences this relationship or decreases negative
outcomes in those with a history of child sexual abuse.
PARTICIPANTS
Participants were 95 undergraduates at a large southeastern university who
completed surveys assessing previous life events (i.e., childhood sexual abuse),
current level of resilience, and current satisfaction with life. Please see Table 1
for demographic information.
METHOD
Students enrolled at a large southeastern university were recruited to
participate in a study assessing previous life experiences and current attitudes.
Participants answered questions related to previous trauma (e.g., “Have you
ever been coerced into performing sexual acts?;” “Have you ever witnessed
someone hitting someone else?”). Participants also answered questions
assessing their level of resilience to life events on the CD-RISC (e.g., “I am
able to adapt when changes occur;” “I tend to bounce back;” “I give my best
efforts not matter what.”). Finally, participants answered questions assessing
their overall satisfaction with life via the SWLS (e.g., “In most ways my life is
close to ideal;” “The conditions of my life are excellent.”). Questions were
randomly presented to participants.
ABSTRACT
The current study examined the relationship between instances of child sexual
abuse and life satisfaction. Specifically, we investigated the role resilience may
play as a potential moderator between past child sexual abuse and current
satisfaction with life. Participants were 95 undergraduate students at a large
southeastern university. Participants completed questionnaires assessing
history of traumatic life events, current level of resilience, and current
satisfaction with life. There was a strong positive correlation between
resilience and satisfaction with life and a strong negative correlation between
history of child sexual abuse and life satisfaction. However, resilience was not
a significant moderator in the current study.
INTRODUCTION
Previous literature establishes certain predictable outcomes in those with a
history CSA, including resiliency. Resilience is defined as the process of
effectively negotiating, adapting to, or managing significant stress or trauma
(Windle, 2010). In studying levels of resilience, Liem et al. (1997), found a
significant number of participants, about 40%, reported resilience despite
having experienced sexual abuse. The explanation for differing patterns of
resiliency following trauma is still unclear. A difference between men and
women has been found, with women reporting slightly higher levels of
resilience compared to men. Several other factors have been tested, such as age
when abuse occurred, severity of abuse, and duration. However, there is little
significant evidence to support these factors as affecting resilience (Liem et al.,
1997).
Life satisfaction is defined as an individual’s conscious, cognitive appraisal of
the quality of his or her life (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985). The
relationship between life satisfaction and resilience has yet to be examined in
those with a history of CSA. However, several studies examined the
relationship between resilience and life satisfaction in those experiencing
stress. Shi et al. (1997) found a positive correlation between life satisfaction
and resilience, such that as life satisfaction increased, resilience to stress
increased. Interestingly, there differences are found by gender in quality of life
measures in those with a history of sexual abuse, with women reporting higher
quality of life compared to men (Lev-Wiesel, 2000); the present research will
attempt to replicate and expand on these results.
Resiliency may be used to cope with stress and may explain why people with
histories of abuse have differing levels of satisfaction with life. The Connor-
Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC25; Connor & Davidson, 2003) was
administered to assess levels of resilience in those participants reporting a
history of CSA. We examined the relationship of resilience to life satisfaction
by administering the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, 1985) to
assess levels of life satisfaction in those reporting a history of CSA.
Understanding the outcomes of CSA is vitally important because there is a gap
in the current literature, and filling that gap may lead to a greater
understanding of those with a history of CSA.
DISCUSSION
The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between a
history of child sexual abuse and satisfaction with life. Specifically, this study
examined whether resilience moderated this relationship. It was hypothesized that
there would be a negative relationship between history of child sexual abuse and
satisfaction with life and a negative relationship between a history of child sexual
abuse and resilience. It was also hypothesized that there would be a positive
relationship between resilience and satisfaction with life. The bivariate correlations do
support these hypotheses. These findings suggest that individuals with a higher level
of resilience reported a higher satisfaction with life.
Resilience moderates the relationship between stress and life satisfaction (Shi et al.,
1997). There is no current research studying resilience as a moderator between history
of child sexual abuse and life satisfaction. The intent of this study was to expand the
research on stress to include a specific event, child sexual abuse, and how it relates to
life satisfaction and resilience. Unfortunately, the results do no support the hypothesis
that level of resilience moderates the relationship between history of CSA and current
satisfaction with life. It is unclear why this relationship does not show a similar pattern
with other stress relationships as seen in Shi et al.’s research (1997).
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
The current study used a college sample, so examining this relationship utilizing a
more generalizable sample is important to determine the consistency of this
relationship across other demographics. Previous research shows resilience as a
moderator to satisfaction with life in stressed individuals. Future research should
expand this idea to other independent variables, such as child sexual abuse, or other
traumatic life events. Future research should examine these relationships in other
samples to see if these results are generalizable and consistent, particularly among
emerging adults who do not attend college.
There are likely other variables that do moderate the relationship between history of
CSA and current satisfaction with life. Some potential variables may be age of CSA
onset, CSA severity and duration, or other variables such as current social
relationships and support.
CONTACT INFORMATION
C. Thresa Yancey, Ph.D. tyancey@georgiasouthern.edu
Department of Psychology 912-478-5704 (office)
P.O. Box 8041 912-478-8501 (lab)
Statesboro, GA 30460 www.georgiasouthern.edu
Note: *Correlation is significant at the .01 level. ** Correlation is significant at the .001 level. CSA= Child Sexual
Abuse RES=Resilience SWLS= Satisfaction with Life Scale
REFERENCES
Connor, K. M., & Davidson, J. R. T. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale: The
Connor-Davidson Scale (CD-RISC). Depression & Anxiety, 18, 76-82.
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale.
Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75.
Lev-Wiesel, R. (2000). Quality of life in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse who have
undergone therapy. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 9, 1-13.
Liem, J. H., James, J. B., O’Toole, J. G., & Boudewyn, A. C. (1997). Assessing resilience in
adults with histories of childhood sexual abuse. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 67, 594-
606.
Shi, R., Zhang, S., & Miao, D. (2015). Failure-related action orientation and life satisfaction:
The mediating role of forgiveness. Journal of Happiness Studies.
Windle, G. (2010). Living with ill-health in older age: The role of a resilient personality.
Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 763-777.
Table 1: Demographic Information
Mean Standard Deviation
Age 19.79 2.13
Frequency Percentage
Gender
Female 81 85.3
Male 14 14.7
Ethnicity
Caucasian 53 56.4
African American 33 34.7
Asian 4 4.2
Hispanic 2 2.1
Bi/Multi Racial 2 2.1
Table 2: Inter-correlations among Measures of Child Sexual Abuse, Resilience, and
Satisfaction with Life
Variables 1 2
1. CSA -- --
2. RES -.202* --
3. SWLS -.227* .554**
Table 3: Summary of Hierarchical Regression Analysis (N = 95)
Predicting Satisfaction with Life
Step 1 Step 2
Variables B 95% CI B 95% CI
Predictors
CSA -.67 [-1.66, .32] -.67 [-1.66, .32]
RES .23 [.15, .31] -.56 [-1.75, .63]
CSA*RES -.78 [-2.33, .76]
R2 .32 .00
Change in R2 .32
Note: All models include covariates. Entries for predictors and interactions are unstandardized B's. Effects and CI's that contain only
zeros (.00 and -.00) were rounded to the nearest decimal and represent the direction of the effect (positive or negative).
CSA=Child Sexual Abuse RES=Resilience